Olympiacos and Maritza claim opening victories in the third round of the #CLVolleyW
Recap
The third round of the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley Women continued on Wednesday with two matches that brought solid performances from Olympiacos PIRAEUS and Maritza PLOVDIV, both earning straight-set victories and taking an important step toward the fourth round. Eight teams remain in the competition, all aiming to secure a place in the five pools of the main phase of Europe’s top club event.
In the first encounter, Olympiacos PIRAEUS hosted Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST and celebrated a hard-fought 3-0 win (25-21, 26-24, 25-23). The Greek side maintained control through most of the opening set, building an early lead that Vasas managed to reduce but not overturn.
The second set turned into a real battle, with both teams trading points and long rallies before Olympiacos finally closed it out at 26-24. The third set mirrored the intensity of the previous one: Vasas fought to stay alive, but Olympiacos’ consistency and home-court advantage made the difference.
Milica Kubura stood out as the MVP of the match with a stellar 24-point performance, including 19 winning spikes and four kill blocks, leading her team with both power and precision in attack.
Later that evening, OK Dinamo ZAGREB welcomed Maritza PLOVDIV, but the Bulgarian team showed why they have been a dominant force in recent seasons, claiming a convincing 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-9, 25-18).
The opening set was competitive, with Dinamo pushing hard and keeping close until the final points, but Maritza’s experience prevailed. The second set, however, saw a complete shift in momentum. Maritza controlled every aspect of the game, with powerful serves and a tight block that limited Dinamo to only nine points.
In the third set, the Croatian side tried to recover, yet Maritza’s attacking rhythm remained unshaken.
Borislava Saykova earned the MVP award after leading her team with 16 points, coming from 12 winning spikes and four kill blocks, confirming her crucial role in both offense and defense.
The return matches are scheduled for next week, with Maritza PLOVDIV once again facing OK Dinamo ZAGREB on Wednesday, and Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST hosting Olympiacos PIRAEUS on Thursday. These matches will determine which teams move forward to the fourth round and get closer to securing their spot among the elite in the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley Women.